LOCKING OF LAKE Is this not an ‘official’ killing of Futala Lake ? LOCKING OF LAKE

By Kaushik Bhattacharya :

AN UNDER-CONSTRUCTION boundary wall of several hundred metres bordering the catchment area of Futala Lake, opposite RTMNU Campus, has raised concerns about blocking the flow of water in the historic lake. A group of green activists who visited the land parcel, belonging to the State Government, situated near the lake on Thursday noticed the ongoing construction work of the boundary wall. The wall is clearly inside the Futala Lake catchment area adjacent to a jackwell. As per the sources, the land where the construction work is going on was proposed for user change by Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) previously. Despite Supreme Court’s order to stop all type of construction activities around the catchment area of Futala Lake, the State Government departments are constructing this boundary wall in the catchment area of the waterbody which will restrict the tributaries and other water sources from carrying water into the lake. According to Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations for Maharashtra State (UDCPR), “Any construction work near natural lakes should be 100 mts away from its high flood line (HFL).” However, the construction of the boundary wall is going on near the bank but inside the lake which is illegal as per the rule.

It has raised alarm among environment experts and green activists in the city. “Futala lake is another Sonegaon lake in the making. It is surprising how one can build walls right inside the water body just to reclaim land. It will stop the catchment of rainwater and eventually make the lake dry,” said Jaideep Das, environment activist while talking to The Hitavada.

“Moreover, it clearly violates UDCPR rule regarding maintaining 100 mts distance for any construction from high flood line of a waterbody,” said Das. The boundary wall is visible in Google Maps (on right marked in red). As per the map the wall is situated near a jackwell which always forms a part of the lake.

“Normally, a jackwell will be constructed at the water level of the lake which is used to collect water from surface sources (lake). Mostly the jackwell is situated in the catchment area of a waterbody,” Kaustav Chatterjee, Founder, Green Vigil Foundation, confirmed with this scribe.

Futala Lake is already a subject of ongoing debate regarding its wetland status and the legality of construction projects near it. While the Maharashtra Government has previously stated it is not a protected wetland, the Supreme Court has intervened, halting construction and seeking details about the proposed projects.

Similarly, the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently served notices to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) regarding the environmental degradation of Futala Lake and directed the authorities to file reply before August 6. This new construction work has now raised eyebrows among the green activists who are now demanding to stop exploitation of waterbodies in the city.